Chapter 17
Molly
I swallow the lump forming in the back of my throat as I watch Ace slowly close his eyes, and I look down, trying my hardest not to run out of here.
He clearly wants to clear the air, so why not, I guess, right? He’s my boss, so we can’t have negativity around us, right?
“My dad married Ruth when I was eight and from day one she ensured I knew I wasn’t her daughter,” I admit and he looks at me intently, “She hated that my dad had me and she hated it even more that he only married her because he wanted me to have a mother figure. She made my life hell, so did Abby and when I was sixteen she slammed into my class and screamed that my dad was dead, not caring about my feelings and broke down despite knowing Dad never loved her. She’d just dropped the bomb in front of all my peers, and from that day on things went downhill. ”
“What happened?” he asks softly, so softly that it contradicts the anger shining in his eyes, and I swallow again.
“Mr. Chimes explained the Mustang and a sizable amount of money was left to me for college, but everything else was liquidated because Ruth and Abby got a lot of debt out in my father’s name.
The house was up for foreclosure so Mr. Chimes did what he had to in order to save the house which belongs to me but for some reason, my father made stipulations,” I explain and he frowns.
Huffing, I lean against the island and say, “In order for me to get the house and keep the car, I needed to go to school and college and graduate, which is one of the other reasons why I’m continuing with my degree.”
“And if you don’t?” he asks.
“Then I lose everything, and the house gets sold, and the money gets donated. If I end up arrested for any reason, Ruth and Abby get everything,” I say and his eyes widen, “It’s why Abby keeps trying to bait me, it’s why they broke the stove and the window and the toilets.
They’re trying to get me to react but it isn’t working and they’re getting desperate because graduation is looming and I will then have the power to kick them both out.
I’ve basically been the modern day Cinderella but the stipulations are also the same for them whereas assault towards me come into it.
If they attack me, they have to leave the house immediately and I get to stay. ”
Ace’s jaw ticks, and he confirms, “You had to go for the safe option for your degree?”
I nod and admit, “I didn’t want to lose my parents' home even though the only rooms that are still the same are the attic with all my mom’s things that my dad put up there after she died giving birth to me which is locked and my room.
Heck, all my dad’s prized possessions are with Mr. Chimes because Ruth was and still is trying to sell anything that’s worth a pretty penny. ”
“Why would your dad do that?” he asks, perplexed, and I sigh.
“Mr. Chimes says my dad didn’t want me to be on my own, so I guess he just missed how secluded Ruth and Abby made me,” I say quietly, although I’m not sure if it is the truth, all I know is I got left with her.
Ace looks away for a moment, sucking his lip ring into his mouth before he looks my way again. “I’m sorry I didn’t get your side of the story,” he finally says, and I give him a small smile.
“Don’t be, I got my payback,” I sass, and he chuckles.
“That you did,” he hums, and I feel my cheeks blush as he pushes off the island and walks around the kitchen, and I tilt my head.
“What’s going on, Ace?” I ask, and he instantly says, “Luca, call me Luca,” and I suck in a breath and tense in shock.
No one is allowed to call a biker their given name except for the person they want to settle down with, something every person in town is aware of, and my heart pounds as I grip the countertop tightly.
I wasn’t imagining things? I wasn’t letting my feelings let me see things that aren’t real?
He wants me?
He looks at me and smiles before walking back around the kitchen.
“Growing up, I idolized my parents,” he begins and I hold my breath, “I saw brothers fuck up left right and center. I saw them hurt their women, I saw people try and get in between them, I mean fuck, my own sister-in-law had a woman help some crazy people kidnap my niece out of revenge for my brother not choosing her but my parents, I saw their love. I saw how happy they were and a spark was still burning inside me to have what they have,” he looks at me, “That was until I overheard my mother snapping at my father for telling an old lady about her affair.”
My mouth parts in shock, and he shakes his head and explains, “For six months, she screwed another man, all because he showed her attention while my dad worked his ass off to ensure she could be a stay-at-home mama with my brother, and then I was conceived.”
“Is your dad–”
“My dad is my dad,” he cuts me off, “He had a DNA test done, I’m his, but Mama, she threatened to abort me when he went to leave her before the results.”
Oh my…
Ace, crap, Luca, sucks his lip ring into his mouth before he steps towards me, just shy of touching me, and his eyes race between mine, keeping me locked in.
“I went downhill, Pidge,” he whispers, “I drank a lot, I moved off club property, I fucked around, most I definitely regret.”
“Abby,” I whisper, and he winces and confirms, “Definitely Abby, especially when some guy accused her of having an STD right after I fucked her.”
I scrunch my nose up, but he doesn’t laugh, or even smile, but instead he swallows hard, his throat bobbing.
“I did cocaine to hide from the pain knowing my mother was spiteful enough to threaten my life to keep my father,” he whispers and my mouth parts as my eyes race between his before he gently cups my cheek, warmth instantly filling me, “It wasn’t for long, but it was long enough that when I get frustrated, I get the itch to do a line and when I finally got off the shit, I fucked until I met you. ”
His confession makes it difficult to breathe, and my heart hurts knowing how much he struggled.
“Why are you telling me all this?” I ask with a whisper, and his grip on my cheek tightens.
“I think you know why, Pidge,” he rasps before he gently places his lips against mine, giving me a chance to pull back but I can’t, I don’t, instead, I lean against him and slowly kiss him back, his lip ring sending shivers down my spine and I grip his shirt in my fist as he steps closer towards me, pressing his chest against mine.
I can feel my pulse race as a sense of home consumes me, and I go to my tiptoes to get even closer.
Luca moves his hand to the back of my head and tilts it as he licks the seam of my lips, and I open for him before our tongues tangle and fireworks flash before me.
Mine, mine, mine. That's all I can think, and I wrap my other arm around his waist, holding him tightly, not wanting the kiss to end, but all too soon, he pulls back.
He doesn’t let go of the grip he has on my head, and I don’t let go of the grip I have on him as he gently caresses my lips.
“Damn,” he whispers, and I tighten my hand on him, and he rasps, “What have you done to me, Pidge?”
My breathing is choppy and I choke, “Exactly what you’ve done to me,” not willing to lie and he nods before kissing me again, this time harder, his hand on my head, pulling the hair tie that is keeping my bun in place and as soon as my hair falls, he grips it while wrapping an arm around my waist and he lifts me with ease.
I gasp into his mouth, but he swallows it as his tongue tangles with mine, his taste taking over my taste buds, making me starved. I wrap my legs around his waist, an arm around his neck, and cup his cheek with my hand as I get lost in him.
Luca groans before I feel us moving, but I don’t move my lips from his, I don’t stop kissing him.
He’s my drug. I don’t care that I can’t catch my breath, I don’t care that I don’t know where he’s walking us, I need his lips against mine, I need him.
Mine, mine, mine… the mantra continues to float in my head, and for the first time since I met this handsome, angry man, I let the words float. I don’t let the consuming fear take over, I push them back, knowing I can panic later.
I feel myself being lowered before my back hits the floor and Luca’s body goes over mine, covering me like a blanket, his weight comforting.
Instead of tensing, I completely melt as I move my hand to his hair, running my fingers through it, tugging lightly and he groans into my mouth and I swallow the sound.
Our kiss heats up as he moves his hand to my chef’s jacket and slowly pops the buttons open and cold air hits my chest as he moves the fabric away and gently glides his hand over my stomach sending goosebumps over my skin and I don’t know where my bravery comes from, but I move my hands to his broad shoulders and glide his cut down his arms.
He catches it and chucks it across the room as my hands go to his shirt, and I lift it.
Breaking the kiss for just a moment, he lifts up, throws his shirt before his body is back on mine, his lips taking mine in a bruising kiss as he cups my jaw, deepening it that sends shockwaves right down to my toes.
Damn.
Our tongues touch, and I arch my back a little, pushing my chest against his, and he groans before breaking the kiss, his lips instantly going to my jaw. I move my head to the side to give him better access as he slowly goes to my throat and sucks.
My clit throbs as a moan escapes me at the sharp sting before his lips travel down my body, his hands going to my chef's jacket, bringing it down my body as I arch into his mouth, his lips setting my body on fire.
His lips latch onto my nipple through the fabric of my lacy bra as he throws my jacket across the room and I gasp, “Luca…” making him groan and my breathing gets heavy when he rolls his hips, his bulge through his jeans hitting my center through my skinny jeans while his hand comes behind me and he unclips my bra, freeing my breasts, my nipples hardening in anticipation for his mouth.